Olga Ogarkova is a political prisoner
A resident of Chita has been sentenced to five years in a penal colony on a charge of issuing calls to engage in terrorism for emotional comments on Telegram
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Olga Ogarkova a political prisoner. Ogarkova was convicted on criminal charges of issuing calls to engage in terrorism and justification of terrorism for comments made on Telegram. Ogarkova’s prosecution and conviction violated her rights to freedom of expression and a fair trial. We demand the immediate release of Olga Ogarkova and that all criminal charges against her be dropped.
What were the charges against Olga Ogarkova?
Olga Ogarkova, aged 57, from Chita in Zabaikalsky Krai, worked as a nurse in recent years, despite having serious health problems herself.
On 1 May 2025, Ogarkova’s home was searched. She was charged with ‘justifying terrorism’ (Article 205.2, Part 2, of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) for comments she left on a Ukrainian Telegram channel. In particular, Ogarkova wrote: ‘Kill that fucking dickhead!!!!’ and ‘Every morning I wake up and immediately check the news. Waiting. They’ve blown up the Crimean bridge. They’ve poisoned the dickhead. My dream)))).’ According to the prosecution, Ogarkova’s comments contained calls for ‘the commission of terrorist acts, namely an attempt on the life of […] Russian President V. V. Putin’ as well as ‘justification of terrorism against Russian President V. V. Putin and an infrastructure facility — the Crimean Bridge.’ Ogarkova admitted writing the comments. She explained she opposes Russia’s war against Ukraine and wrote the comments under the influence of her emotions.
The case was heard in a single hearing. On 20 August 2025, Ogarkova was found guilty and sentenced to five years in a general regime penal colony. She was taken into custody in the courtroom.
Why do we consider Olga Ogarkova a political prisoner?
Olga Ogarkova’s comments contain neither justification of terrorism nor calls for people to engage in terrorism. She did not seek to promote the ideology and practice of terrorism, nor did she expect her statements to lead to any real consequences. In emotional comments, Ogarkova expressed her attitude towards the war and towards the man responsible for it — Vladimir Putin.
The charges against Olga Ogarkova are also groundless because attacks on the Crimean Bridge by Ukraine are part of military operations, not acts of terrorism. The same applies to a hypothetical attack against Putin as commander-in-chief.
Moreover, even if Ogarkova’s words were to formally constitute a criminal offence, the danger they presented to society was extremely low. There were no grounds for a criminal prosecution.
The charge of ‘justification of terrorism’ is used by the Russian authorities to prosecute dissidents and intimidate society.
A detailed description of Olga Ogarkova’s case and of our position is available on our website.
How can you help?
You can write to Olga Ogarkova at the following address:
RU:
Российская Федерация, 670000, г. Улан-Удэ, ул. Пристанская 4 «а», ФКУ ИК-7 УФСИН России по Республике Бурятия, Огаркова Ольга Альбертовна, 1968 г. р.
EN:
Olga Albertovna Ogarkova (born 1968), Penal Colony No. 7, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for the Republic of Buryatia, 4 A Pristanskaya Street, Ulan-Ude, 670000, Russia.
You can also send emails via ZT (for payment with all bank cards) and Memorial-France (free of charge).
Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the intended recipient.
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